The 2023 NFL Draft takes place April 27-29 this year, emanating LIVE from Kansas City, Missouri. As it stands, the Tennessee Titans have one first round draft pick. New general manager Ran Carthon and head coach Mike Vrabel currently hold the 11th overall selection. Over the next couple of months, I’ll be taking a look at some of the prospects who are either rumored to be tied to, have met with, who make sense for the Titans, or who are for some reason being mocked to the Titans even though they don’t really have a need at the position. Whatever – there are no rules here. Today, we’re lookin’ at TCU Horned Frogs guard Steve Avila and North Dakota State Bison guard Cody Mauch.
I didn’t want to have to choose between my two favorite offensive guards in this draft class, so I decided to just roll with both of ’em in what is the penultimate piece in the Titans First Round Options series for 2023. If you’ve been keeping up with my draft coverage this offseason, you already know I’m not as low on this guard class as some others are. There’s a wealth of potential in this group that is best represented in Avila and Mauch. Now, while I do think the Titans are going to invest some draft capital along the interior of the offensive line, I don’t expect them to take a guard at #11. The only scenario in which the Titans should even remotely be thinking about the guard position is if they’re able to find a trade partner to move back in the first round. Avila and Mauch are both considered Day 2 guys, but as we saw with Cole Strange a year ago, all it takes is for the right team to fall in love.
In Avila, the Titans would be getting a powerful guard that can move surprisingly well in space for a man that is built like a cinder block with legs. In my initial eval of Avila, I wrote that there’s a “fee fi fo fum” quality to his game. Dude’s a giant, but he’s deceptively quick. His tape looks like he’s moving a lot slower than he actually is. He’s like a serial killer in a horror movie. You notice him 50 feet away, and then before you know it, he’s right behind you. I like how Avila plays from a wide base and latches onto guys with those vise grip hands. At the Reese’s Senior Bowl, I noticed him getting to the second level and burying the poor linebackers tasked with slowing him down. The Titans seem to be leaning towards pass protectors in this draft class based on who they’ve visited with, but Avila looks like more of a gap fit in the NFL based off of his tape. He’s shown throughout the draft process that he’s a better athlete than he’s being given credit for, so maybe there’s upside there because of untapped potential and we’re all just overthinking it.
As for Mauch, well, he looks a little lean for an offensive lineman – you see the tight end background in him just by looking at him. But, man – he packs a knockout punch when he’s in space, be it from pulling and meeting a defender at the edge, or from squirting through to the second level and finding somebody to hit. He’s a wrestler – he’s willing to stand in there and go toe to toe with anyone. But, it’s his nasty streak that impresses me so much. I’m a big time attitude guy, and Mauch will throw you to the ground if that’s what it takes to win a rep. He can be a battering ram in space, and he’s athletic and sticky enough to pass protect to boot. He offers true five-position versatility along the offensive line, but ideally, you want him playing guard.
Like I said, I don’t think either of these guys will be in play for the Titans at #11, but because of their power, violence, versatility, and attitude, I could easily see this Titans regime seeing each of these guys as their type of dudes. Avila and Mauch have moxie that you want to build around. It’s also worth mentioning that the range during which each of these guys figures to be drafted could put them in play at #41 too.
Further Reading: Cody Mauch of North Dakota State taking smile to 2023 NFL draft and TCU’s Steve Avila more than just 1 of top OL prospects, reveals teams who have shown interest
2023 TITANS FIRST ROUND OPTIONS
- Christian Gonzalez
- Paris Johnson Jr.
- Broderick Jones
- Michael Mayer
- Kelee Ringo
- John Michael Schmitz
- Peter Skoronski
- CJ Stroud
- Lukas Van Ness
- Darnell Washington
- Wide receivers
- Tyree Wilson
- Devon Witherspoon
- Bryce Young
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Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network, and a Dogs Playing Poker on velvet connoisseur. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD, #BeBetter, and ‘Minds right, asses tight.’ “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Nashville, Yankee Candle, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley.
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